Wickhambrook Women's Institute

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page updated 5 March 2008

WELCOME TO WICKHAMBROOK WOMEN'S INSTITUTE - Founded 1926

Wickhambrook W.I. was started in December 1926 and moved into its own hall in 1929. It is one of the few W.I.'s in the country that owns its hall.

There are four hall trustees:

Mrs Gill Hanbury - daughter of one of the founders
Mrs Joyce Draycott
Mrs Thelma Farrow
Mrs Deirdre Smith

Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm

Committee meetings are on the first Tuesday and are held in committee members' homes or in the hall.

The Committee, which is elected each November, is responsible for arranging meetings, outings and social events which are planned to be as varied and enjoyable as possible. One meeting a year is run by members, usually in June. Notices advertising speakers, etc. are displayed at various points in the village and on the hall notice board. The three main officers, i.e. President, Secretary and Treasurer serve for a maximum of 3 years.

Subscriptions are payable to the Treasurer each January and are fixed by the National Federation of Women's Institutes. A W.I. newspaper is published each month. This contains news and events organised by Suffolk West Federation which has its office at 19 Whiting Street, Bury St Edmunds. There is also an excellent W.I. magazine, "Home and Country", a W.I. diary and calendar which can be ordered in Autumn. Being a member of the W.I. means access to courses run by Denman College near Oxford, several of our members having taken advantage of these.

There is a Walking Club which meets every two weeks and a monthly Reading Club. A Sewing Group meets weekly from March to November and makes gifts and items for the Christmas Fair.
READ THE LATEST WALKING CLUB REPORT

More information can be found out about the W.I. by visiting their website www.womens-institute.org.uk

FUTURE EVENTS

11th March
Through the Eye of a needle - Rachel Swan

8th April
Patrick Scrivens - Rights of Way

12th April

Annual Quiz Night with Ploughmans Supper

£4 each

(please book early - £10 deposit per team)

contact Val

13th May

Resolutions : Blind Auction

10th June

Outing - details to be announced
(All Meetings held in WI Hall, 7.30pm)

Annual Jumble Sale

Saturday 15th March

at 2pm : WI Hall

Come along and pick up all those bargains

free entry

ISSUE 15

THE
SUMMER
NEWSLETTER

Hiring The Hall - ALL HIRERS PLEASE ALSO READ THIS IMPORTANT NOTICE >> find out here

The hall is let out regularly and this provides some of the income for its upkeep. Current charges are £4.50/hour which includes kitchen facilities.

FOR THE ATTENTION OF ALL HIRING THE HALL
Please note that there is no longer any coin meter for electricity - all usage of electricity is now included in hall rental charges.

Important Information for all hirers of
Wickhambrook W.I.Hall.

Due to the ongoing increases in the cost of electricity, the W.I. Committee has reluctantly agreed to an increase in the hourly charges for hiring the Hall.
This charge includes all electrical charges since the removal of the coin meter last year.

As of 1st January 2007,
the hourly rate increased to £4.50.

All bookings made prior to this date will be honoured at the rate when booked.

Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your continued support of the Hall.

W.I. Committee
November 2006

President	Mrs Dorothy Anderson	01440 820376
Booking Officer	Mrs Freda Thomas	01440 820297
Caretaker	Mrs Shelley Prigg
Keys are available by telephoning	01440 820297	01440 820328	01440 820376

Previous reports that have been listed on this website and reported by various means throughout the village, mainly The Scene and What's-On, are listed below in date order - click on the report you are interested in to read more about it:

new members are very welcome

2007 REPORTS

January and February 2008

September and October 2007

WI 80th Birthday Celebrations

PREVIOUS REPORTS

2004 REPORTS

A Short History of Wickhambrook Women's Institute

The information about our W.I. has been sourced from the wisdom, memories and guidance of the members who have lived through almost the whole life of the Institute since its formation in 1926.

The W.I. Banner embroidered with the eleven greens

Wickhambrook W.I. has thrived from that day to this, providing a forum for women to meet, talk, create, argue, support and educate while enjoying themselves. Women from all walks of life contribute to the community spirit and can have a real influence on the policies of local and national governments but most of all we enjoy helping our village community and have each others friendship throughout a varied and busy year.

The changing face of the Women's Institute nationally has been mirrored by our own Institute.

Originally meetings were held in the afternoons when less women went out to work, now it is rare to find a member who does not do or has not done a job at some point in their life giving us a wealth of knowledge and experience to tap into when necessary. Although things have changed in many ways the fundamental reason for the Institutes existence still remains that of support, friendship, education and information for all women.

The fun we have had along the way is evident in the Scrapbooks lovingly put together each year. In the past years the highlight was always the meeting held at “The Manor” the home of President Lady Briggs, who held this position for 21 years in all, quite some achievement. We still have Summer Garden Evenings there from time to time at the kind invitation of Mrs Gill Hanbury, her daughter and W.I. member of equally long standing.

Nowadays we have many excellent evenings but Carnival Day has to be the busiest when everyone helps serve teas, the profits from which enables us to maintain the W.I. Hall for the use of all village folk and beyond. We are one of the few Institutes with their own premises and a piece of the past that we want to keep so it’s worth the effort.

Another delight for members at meetings are the talks, demonstrations or visits included in last year as programme, you are never 100% sure how the evening is going to work out, we have had lots of surprises along the way from slightly tipsy speakers, absent ingredients for recipes, messy but challenging tries at different skills from hand bell ringing to line dancing. We are definitely not all Jam and Jerusalem at Wickhambrook although these to have their places at the W.I. too.

Why not come along and join us and help make the next chapter in Wickhambrook W.I.’s history with us, you’ll be made very welcome.

History of the Women's Institute extracted from The Scene : Millennium Edition : 2000